Metal edge members for skis having varied lengthwise stress-strain ratio and skis including such members

ABSTRACT

A metal edge member of the cracked variety which is formed so as to display a varied stress-strain ratio, or spring rate at different areas along its length to vary the flexibility of the edge member at different lengthwise areas on the ski.

United States Patent Schultes Oct. 24, 1972 [54] METAL EDGE MEMBERS FOR SKIS HAVING VARIED LENGTHWISE STRESS-STRAIN RATIO AND SKIS INCLUDING SUCH MEMBERS Inventor: Hermann Hohenems/V1bg., Austria Assignee: Olin Coporation Filed: Jan. 29, 1971 Appl. No.: 110,909

[7 Schultes,

US. Cl. ..280/1 1.13 N Int. Cl. ..A63c 5/04 Field of Seareh..280/1 1.13 F, 11.13 V, 11.13 E, 280/l1.13.l, 11.13 N, 11.13 P, 11.13 Q,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,401 ,949 9/1 968 Fouillet ..280/1 1.13 N

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 4/1968 France ..280/l 1.13 F 1,475,632 2/1967 France ..280/ 1 1.13 N 684,154 11/1939 Germany ..280/1 1.13 R

Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examinen-Milton L. Smith Attorney--Donald R. Motsko, I-I. Samuel Kiesser and William W. Jones [57] ABSTRACT 12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures w 7 6 U u UUJU Umu umum'numu UUUUU. 4 1% //Z r Z z l/f METAL EDGE MEMBERS FOR SKIS HAVING VARIED LENGTHWISE STRESS-STRAIN RATIO AND SKIS INCLUDING SUCH MEMBERS This invention relates to metal edge members for snow skis, and more particularly to metal edge members which are cracked or interrupted to increase the flexibility of the member as compared to a continuous or uninterrupted edge member of the same configuration and material.

Modern ski constructions are composed of numerous and varied structural members. A single ski can include structural members of such materials as fiberglass, light metal alloys, steel edges, wooden and/or plastic cores, and the like. These different materials exhibit different physical characteristics which in their entirety, and in connection with the shape of the ski, define the skiability of the ski.

Of all the numerous physical characteristics influencing skiability, the modulus of elasticity, or E-modulus of the various materials is most important. The E- modulus of the structural parts of a ski, along with the thickness of the ski, not only defines the stiffness curve of the ski, but also the vibration absorbtion rate to a great extent. The higher the E-modulus of the structural parts of a ski, the smaller the vibration absorption, or damping of the ski. A wooden ski with no metal or fiberglass reinforcement members having a body of hickory or ash with an E-modulus of about 1,350 kp/mm has the best damping effect. A light metal ski with a glued continuous one piece steel edge, which light metal alloy has an E-modulus of 7,000 kp/mm and which steel edge has an E-modulus of about 22,000 kp/mm is highly susceptable to vibration and poorly damped. Experience has shown that vibration time for the light metal ski after a shock is on the order of eight times longer than vibration time after the same shoc of the wooden ski.

In order to improve the damping of modern multimaterial skis, attempts have been made to limit the vibratory effect of the high E-modulus components of the ski imparted to the remainder of the ski. Since the steel edge has the highest E-modulus and the poorest damping, the effort has been concentrated on this structural part of the ski.

One method of controlling the vibratory effect of steel edges imparted to the remainder of the ski has been to attempt to isolate the steel edges by means of rubber or other elastic layers interposed between the steel edges and the remainder of the components of the ski. The rubber layers thus serve to reduce transmission of elongation of the ski body to the steel edge strips. This procedure will reduce the vibratory influence of the steel edges, however, not to the degree desired in certain skiing situations.

A second and more satisfactory method of reducing the vibratory influence of the steel edge known in the prior art is to split the steel edge strips into sections which are interconnected, thus providing a unitary edge that is subdivided into sections. By splitting the steel edge into sections, the stress lines are interrupted and a greater elongation at the section connections is possible without the usual high stress on a continuous steel strip. Steel edges thus split into interconnected sections are commonly referred to as cracked edges. Several methods are known whereby the steel edge strips are split up into small interconnected sections by cutting and slotting. In this manner the cracked edge displays, when subjected to lengthwise tensile load, the characteristics of a tensile spring. Therefore, the stressstrain ratio of a cracked edge can be defined by the spring rate: c Ap/Af, where P is the force acting upon the edge, and f is the elongation of the edge.

Experience has shown that the vibration decay time for skis having cracked steel edges is proportional to the spring rate of the cracked edge. The higher the spring rate of the cracked edge, the longer the decay time of vibration of the skis after being subjected to a shock. The spring rate of the cracked edge is determined by the length of the individual sections of the edge, and by the stiffness or bending resistance of the connections extending between individual sections of the edge. The longer the individual sections, the greater the spring rate and the longer the vibration decay time of the steel edge. The same effect can be obtained by increasing the stiffness or bending resistance of the connections, i.e., the greater the bending resistance of the connections, the greater the spring rate and the longer the vibration decay time of the steel edge.

The cracked edges disclosed in the prior art thus have succeeded in lowering the spring rate of a steel edge member as compared to a continuous steel edge, however, the prior art cracked edges display a constant spring rate, albeit lowered, over the entire length of the edge. Thus the ski having cracked edges, as disclosed in the prior art, is damped at a constant rate along its entire length. Modern skiing techniques, particularly ski racing of professional and international amateur caliber with highly specialized techniques and on highly prepared slopes have shown that a ski does not perform to its utmost capabilities if it is damped at a constant rate over its entire length. i

This invention concerns a cracked edge, and a ski having a cracked edge, which is clamped to different degrees at different points or locations along its length. Thus the vibration decay time of different areas along the length of the ski of this invention varies. This is accomplished by varying the spring; rate of the cracked edge at different locations along its length. The spring rate is varied by forming individual sections of varying length along the length of the edge, or by forming connectors having different resistance to bending along the length of the edge. The preferred spring rate on the skis of thisinvention assumes the shape of a curve having its lowest value in the shovel area of the ski, and gradually increasing until it reaches its maximum value in the binding area and rearward thereof. It will be appreciated, however, that other spring rate variations can be achieved without departing from the spirit of this invention, depending on the particular type of skiing for which the ski is being designed. Thus, when the preferred spring rate curve is imparted to the ski, the shovel area will be highly damped and display a low vibration decay time, while the rearward end of the ski will display a lower damping and a higher vibration decay time, which is very desirable for gliding on the skis. Thus the preferred ski of this invention is greatly superior for the expert skier or racer because of the high damping, and therefore extreme quietness and track safety at the front end of the ski, and at the same time, measured or controlled vibration at the ski end area providing a very good gliding effect and easy turn- It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a ski displaying varying damping characteristics along its length.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a ski of the character described having a very low vibration decay time at the shovel end of the ski and a higher measured vibration decay time at the rearward end of the ski.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a ski of the character described having cracked metal edges displaying a varying spring rate along their length.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a cracked edge formed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cracked edge of the type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a ski showing the manner of mounting the cracked edges of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the ski of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a ski formed in accordance with this invention showing preferred areas of varied degrees of damping along the length of the ski;

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of the spring rate of a cracked steel edge formed in accordance with this invention as it varies along the length of the ski, and as it compares to both cracked and continuous steel edges of the prior art;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of a cracked edge formed in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a cracked edge formed in accordance with this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodi ment of a cracked edge formed in accordance with this invention is shown. The edge is formed from an elongated generally L-shaped member generally indicated by the numeral 2. The member 2 includes a dependent portion 4 forming the actual running edge of the member 2, and a lateral web portion 6 forming the connector portion of the member 2. The connector portion 6 of the edge includes a plurality of uniform connectors 8 having a generally square or rectangular configuration, and each having an aperture 10 therethrough. A plurality of breaks, gaps, or cuts 12 extend laterally and completely through the running portion 4 of the member 2, the cuts 12 opening into the apertures 10 in the connectors 8.

The spacing between adjacent cuts 12 varies along the length of the member 2, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cuts 12 on the left hand end portion of the member 2 are closely spaced apart and open into adjacent ones of the apertures 10. Thus the left hand end portion of the running portion 4 of the member 2 is divided by the cuts 12 into a plurality of small sections of segments 14 of equal length. In the intermediate portion of the part of the edge member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cuts 12 are spaced further apart so as to divide the runner 4 into segments 16 which are equal in length, and which are each twice as long as the segments 14. On the left hand side of FIGS. 1 and 2, the cuts 12 are spaced still further apart so as to form segments 18 which are longer still than the segments 16, and are three times longer than the segments 14. Thus the portion of the edge member containing the segments 14 will have a lower spring rate, a higher damping characteristic, and thus a shorter vibration time because the segments 14 are shorter, as compared to the portion of the edge member containing the segments 16. In turn, the spring rate of the portion containing the segments 16 is lower than the portion containing the segments 18. In this manner, the spring rate of the edges, and thereby the damping characteristics of the ski, can be varied practically infinitely along the length of the edge and ski. By forming the connectors 8 in the square or rectangular configuration, it has been found to be possible to space the cuts 12 as close together as about 9 millimeters without deliteriously affecting the strength of the edge member. The edge member 2 is preferably formed from steel, but may be formed from another metal having acceptable strength without departing from the spirit of the invention. The edge member 2 is preferably formed with an L-shaped cross-sectional configuration, however, other crosssectional configurations may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic representation of a cross-section of a ski showing how the edge members 2 are mounted on the ski. The ski includes a core 20 which may be foamed plastic, wood, fiberglass, metal sandwich, or other convention materials or combinations of materials. The sides 22 of the ski may be formed by a layer of phenolic resin, or the like. Top side edges 24 of aluminum, steel, or other metal may be included to extend for the major portion of the length of the ski. The top edges 24 may be glued or otherwise fastened to the ski body. A layer of fiberglass 26 may extend across the top of the core 20 between opposed faces of the top edges 24 and a top layer 28 of phenolic resin or other decorative surface may be deposited over the fiberglass layer 26 and top edges 24 to form the top surface of the ski. The cracked edges 2 are secured to the lower side portions of the core 20 by gluing, screwing or the like, and there may be a fiberglass layer 30 below the bottom surface of the core 20 extending between opposed faces on the web or connector part 6 of the cracked edges. A running surface 32 of P-Tex or the like plastic extends across the bottom of the ski between opposite side surfaces of the segmented runner part 4 of the cracked edges. Thus the segmented runner part 4 of the cracked edges forms part of the side surface of the ski and part of the running surface of the ski.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a ski subdivided into longitudinal zones or areas having different damping characteristics achieved by varying the spring rate of the cracked edges of the same general configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Zone A in the shovel area of the ski can be about millimeters in length and be subdivided into 20 segments, each of which is 9 millimeters in length. Zone B, to the rear of the shovel area can be about 180 millimeters in length and be subdivided into 10 segments, each of which is 18 millimeters in length.

Zone C can be 189 millimeters in length and subdivided into seven segments, each of which is 27 millimeters in length. Zone D can be 180 millimeters in length and be subdivided into five segments, each of which is 36 millimeters in length. Zone E can be 180 millimeters in length subdivided into four segments each of which is 45 millimeters in length. Zone F is the remaining length of the ski, and is preferably one continuous segment. The boot or binding area of the ski is preferably at 34, at the forwardmost part of Zone F.

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of the spring rate values of the edge taken along portions of a ski formed in accordance with this invention and in the same general manner as depicted in FIG. 4. The side view of the ski is superimposed over the graph at the top of FIG. 5 so that the spring rate for the edge at any part of the ski is apparent from the graph. The abscissa of the graph shows the length of the ski running surface in centimeters, and the ordinate of the graph shows the spring rate of the cracked edge in kiloponds per millimeter. The dashed line 36 represents the spring rate of a continuous steel edge over the length of the running surface of the ski, and the dash-dot line 38 represents the spring rate of a conventional cracked steel edge over the length of the running surface of the ski. It is noted that the spring rates for both the continuous and conventional cracked edges are constant along the entire length of the ski. The solid line 40 represents the average spring rate of a variable cracked edge formed in accordance with the invention. It will be noted that the spring rateis very low in the shovel area of the ski, and rises gradually along the length of the ski until the binding area of the ski is reached, at which point the spring rate becomes constant since at that point the edge becomes continuous. It will thus be appreciated that the shovel area of the ski will be highly damped, and the damping effect decreases lengthwise along the ski in a rearward direction.

Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of a cracked edge formed in accordance with the invention is shown. The edge is formed from an elongated generally L-shaped member indicated generally by the numeral 102. The member 102 includes a runner portion 104 and a transverse web portion 106, the latter comprising a series of substantially square or rectangular connector elements generally indicated by the numeral 108. The runner portion 104 is subdivided into a series of segments 110 of equal length by. means of spaced apart cuts 1 12. Each cut 1 12 extends completely through the runner portion 102 and opens into an aperture 114 extending through each connector element 108. Thus the connectors 108 provide a springy connection between adjacent segments 110 of the runner 104. It will be noted that the apertures 104, from left to right in FIG. 6, are grouped in adjacent pairs of equal size, with the size of one pair of apertures 104 being smaller than the size of the pair of apertures to its left. Thus the connectors 108 are disposed in pairs which become progressively thicker from left to right as viewed in FIG. 6. It is apparent that the thicker the connector elements 108, the greater will be their resistance to bending, thus the connector elements 108 at the left of FIG. 6 will bend more easily that the connector elements lengthwise to the right thereof. In this manner the left hand portion of the cracked edge shown in FIG. 6 displays a lower spring rate than the intermediate portion thereof, which in turn displays a lower spring rate than the right hand portion thereof. Thus by progressively thickening the connectors 108, a cracked edge can be achieved with a spring rate which varies along the length of the edge.

FIG. 7 illustrates a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. l,wherein the connectors 8' are formed with a curvilinear profile rather than being square or rectangular. By using a curvilinear connector 8' the strain imparted to the connector is evenly distributed over the entire connector. It is noted that the cuts 12 or 12 may be made inclined with respect to the axis of the edge or may be normal with respect thereto, it being preferred to incline the cuts with respect to the axis of the edge.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that the invention permits the production of skis having superior vibration clamping characteristics which will vary along the length of the ski and which will be in exact conformity to the damping requirements of any particular area of the ski along its length. The varied spring rate of the steel edge of the ski, which produces the varied damping of the ski, can be produced by varying the length of the individual segments along the length of the cracked edge, by varying the resistance to bending of the individual connector elements joining adjacent segments, or by a combination of the two. In this way a very accurate and gradual variation of the spring rate of the cracked edge can be accomplished along the length of the edge. Thus skis having tracking, turning, and gliding characteristics greatly superior to any single ski known in the prior art can be produced. Although only bottom edges have been illustrated as being formed in accordance with this invention, it will be appreciated that top edges can also be formed in accordance therewith.

Since many changes and variations of the disclosed embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the inventive concept, it is not intended to limit the invention otherwise than as required by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cracked edge member for use as a component in a ski, said member comprising an elongated one piece metal body; said body having one leg providing a runner portion for the edge; a plurality of laterally extending gaps traversing said runner portion to sub-divide the latter in internally continuous segments; said body having another leg comprising connecting means interconnnecting adjacent ones of said runner segments; and ones of saidconnecting means having a greater resistance to bending than others of said connecting means.

2. A cracked edge member for use as component in a ski, said member comprising an elongated one piece metal body; said body having one leg providing a runner portion for the edge; a plurality of laterally extending gaps traversing said runner portion to sub-divide the latter into segments, said segments being serially disposed lengthwise from one end of said body to the other end of said body; and said body having another leg comprising connecting means interconnecting adjacent ones of said runner segments, ones of said connecting means having a progressively increasing resistance to bending progressing longitudinally from one end of said body toward the other end of said body whereby said body acts as a tensile spring with a progressively increasing spring rate measured longitudinally from said one end of said body to said other end of said body.

3. A unitary metal cracked edge member for use in a ski, said member comprising: a series of longitudinally adjacent interconnected segments; said member including 'a plurality of longitudinally extending zones with each zone consisting of a plurality of segments of substantially equal length; and the length of each of the segments in any particularzone being different than the length of each of the segments in an adjacent zone to impart to each zone a spring rate which is different from the spring rate of an adjacent zone.

4. A one-piece metal member for use as an edge component in a ski, said member comprising: a series of longitudinally adjacent segments; means integral with said segments for interconnecting adjacent ones of said segments; said segments being arranged in groups consisting of a multitude of segments of substantially equal length to define longitudinally adjacent zones in said member; and each of the segments in any particular zone being of a length which is different from the length of each of the segments in an adjacent zone to impart to the particular zone a spring rate which is different from the spring rate of the adjacent zone.

5. A cracked edge member for use as a component in a ski, said member comprising: an elongated one-piece metal body including a runner portion for the edge; a plurality of laterally extending gaps traversing said runner portion to sub-divide said runner portion into a series of adjacent segments; connecting means on said member for interconnecting adjacent ones of said segments; said runner portion including a plurality of longitudinally extending zones with each of said zones containing a plurality of said segments of substantially the same length; and each segment in any particular zone being of a length which is different from the length of each segment in an adjacent zone to impart to said particular zone a spring rate which is different than the spring rate of an adjacent zone.

6. A cracked edge member for use as a component in a ski, said member comprising: an elongated one-piece metal body having opposite ends and a mid portion; said body having one leg providing a runner portion for the edge; a plurality of laterally extending gaps traversing said runner portion to sub-divide the latter into segments; said runner portion including a plurality of zones extending longitudinally from one end of said runner portion to at least approximately the mid portion thereof, each of said zones containing a plurality of said segments; and each of the segments in a first zone at said one end of said runner portion being of a length which is shorter than the length of each of the segments in a second zone adjacent said first zone, and each of the segments in said second zone being of a length which is shorter than the length of each of the segments in a third zone which is adjacent said second zone to impart to said first zone a spring rate which is less than the spring rate of said second zone, and to impart to said second zone a spring rate which is less than the spring rate of said third zone.

7. In a ski having a front shovel portion, an intermediate lengthwise portion, and a rearward tail portion; cracked edge members mounted on said ski and extending lengthwise therealong from said front shovel portion of said ski to substantially said rearward tail portion of said ski; said cracked edge members comprising a series of interconnected segments; said ski including a series of longitudinal zones extending from said front shovel portion rearwardly toward said intermediate lengthwise portion; each of said zones containing a plurality of said segments of substantially equal length; and the length of each said segments in zones nearer said front shovel portion of the ski being less than the length of each of said segments in zones further from said front shovel portion of the ski to impart to zones nearer said front shovel portion a spring rate which is lower than the sprig rate of zones further from said front shovel portion of said ski.

8. In a ski having a front shovel portion, an intermediate lengthwise portion, and a rearward tail portion; means forming a cracked edge mounted on said ski and extending lengthwise therealong from said front shovel portion to substantially said rearward tail portion of said ski; said cracked edge comprising a series of connected segments; said cracked edge including a series of longitudinal zones extending rearwardly from said front shovel portion; each of said zones containing a plurality of said segments of substantially equal length within a particular zone; and the length of the segments in the zone at said front shovel portion of said ski being less than the length of the segments in any zone rearwardly thereof to impart to said front shovel portion of the ski a higher vibration damping characteristic than is imparted to the remainder of the ski.

9. The ski of claim 8, wherein each zone consists of segments of a progressively increasing length the greater the distance of the greater zone from the shovel portion as taken at least to the intermediate lengthwise portion of the ski to provide in the ski zones of progressively lower vibration damping characteristics as measured from the front shovel portion of the ski rearwardly to the intermediate lengthwise portion of the ski.

10. In a ski having a front shovel portion, an intermediate binding portion, and a rearward tail end portion; means forming an edge member mounted on said ski and extending lengthwise therealong from said front shovel portion to substantially said rearward tail portion of said ski; said edge member comprising a series of segments and means interconnecting adjacent ones of said segments; the part of said edge member between said front shovel portion and said binding portion of the ski being divided into a series of longitudinally extending zones; each of said zones consisting of a plurality of said segments of substantially equal length within a particular zone; the length of the segments within a particular zone being longer than the length of the segments of any zone between the particular zone and the front shovel portion of the ski to impart to the ski zones of progressively increasing spring rate as taken from the front shovel portion to the binding portion of the ski.

11. The ski of claim 10, wherein said edge member consists of one continuous segment from substantially said binding portion to said rearward tail end portion of the ski to impart a constant high spring rate to the part of the ski between said binding portion and said rearward tail end portion.

jacent ones of said segments; and said member further comprising a single uninterrupted segment from said binding area to said rearward tail end area of said ski to provide the ski with a lower spring rate forward of the binding area and a substantially higher spring rate rearward of the binding area of the ski.

mrre sures PATENT errrcr fiEllFlCA'lE 0% @GWWQ'EW Patent No. 3,700,252 Dated October 24, 1972 Inventgr(s) Hermann Schultes It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Claim 9, line 3, please delete greater" second occurrence,

and insert "particular-e.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of February 19%..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Qfficer Commissioner of Patents FORM po'wso uscouwoc scan-eon 9 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I," 0-36-"4 

1. A cracked edge member for use as a component in a ski, said member comprising an elongated one piece metal body; said body having one leg providing a runner portion for the edge; a plurality of laterally extending gaps traversing said runner portion to sub-divide the latter in internally continuous segments; said body having another leg comprising connecting means interconnnecting adjacent ones of said runner segments; and ones of said connecting means having a greater resistance to bending than others of said connecting means.
 2. A cracked edge member for use as component in a ski, said member comprising an elongated one piece metal body; said body having one leg providing a runner portion for the edge; a plurality of laterally extending gaps traversing said runner portion to sub-divide the latter into segments, said segments being serially disposed lengthwise from one end of said body to the other end of said body; and said body having another leg comprising connecting means interconnecting adjacent ones of said runner segments, ones of said connecting means having a progressively increasing resistance to bending progressing longitudinally from one end of said body toward the other end of said body whereby said body acts as a tensile spring with a progressively increasing spring rate measured longitudinally from said one end of said body to said other end of said body.
 3. A unitary metal cracked edge member for use in a ski, said member comprising: a series of longitudinally adjacent interconnected segments; said member including a plurality of longitudinally extending zones with each zone consisting of a plurality of segments of substantially equal length; and the length of each of the segments in any particular zone being different than the length of each of the segments in an adjacent zone to impart to each zone a spring rate which is different from the spring rate of an adjacent zone.
 4. A one-piece metal member for use as an edge component in a ski, said member comprising: a series of longitudinally adjacent segments; means integral with said segments for interconnecting adjacent ones of said segments; said segments being arranged in groups consisting of a multitude of segments of substantially equal length to define longitudinally adjacent zones in said member; and each of the segments in any particular zone being of a length which is different from the length of each of the segments in an adjacent zone to impart to the particular zone a spring rate which is different from the spring rate of the adjacent zone.
 5. A cracked edge member for use as a component in a ski, said member comprising: an elongated one-piece metal body including a runner portion for the edge; a plurality of laterally extending gaps traversing said runner portion to sub-divide said runner portion into a series of adjacent segments; connecting means on said member for interconnecting adjacent ones of said segments; said runner portion including a plurality of longitudinally extending zones with each of said zones containing a plurality of said segments of substantially the same length; and each segment in any particular zone being of a length which is different from the length of each segment in an adjacent zone to impart to said particular zone a spring rate which is different than the spring rate of an adjacent zone.
 6. A cracked edge member for use as a component in a ski, said member comprising: an elongated one-piece metal body having opposite ends and a mid portion; said body having one leg providing a runner portion for the edge; a plurality of laterally extending gaps traversing said runner portion to sub-divide the latter into segments; said runner portion including a plurality of zones extending longitudinally from one end of said runner portion to at least approximately the mid portion thereof, each of said zones containing a plurality of said segments; and each of the segments in a first zone at said one end of said runner Portion being of a length which is shorter than the length of each of the segments in a second zone adjacent said first zone, and each of the segments in said second zone being of a length which is shorter than the length of each of the segments in a third zone which is adjacent said second zone to impart to said first zone a spring rate which is less than the spring rate of said second zone, and to impart to said second zone a spring rate which is less than the spring rate of said third zone.
 7. In a ski having a front shovel portion, an intermediate lengthwise portion, and a rearward tail portion; cracked edge members mounted on said ski and extending lengthwise therealong from said front shovel portion of said ski to substantially said rearward tail portion of said ski; said cracked edge members comprising a series of interconnected segments; said ski including a series of longitudinal zones extending from said front shovel portion rearwardly toward said intermediate lengthwise portion; each of said zones containing a plurality of said segments of substantially equal length; and the length of each said segments in zones nearer said front shovel portion of the ski being less than the length of each of said segments in zones further from said front shovel portion of the ski to impart to zones nearer said front shovel portion a spring rate which is lower than the sprig rate of zones further from said front shovel portion of said ski.
 8. In a ski having a front shovel portion, an intermediate lengthwise portion, and a rearward tail portion; means forming a cracked edge mounted on said ski and extending lengthwise therealong from said front shovel portion to substantially said rearward tail portion of said ski; said cracked edge comprising a series of connected segments; said cracked edge including a series of longitudinal zones extending rearwardly from said front shovel portion; each of said zones containing a plurality of said segments of substantially equal length within a particular zone; and the length of the segments in the zone at said front shovel portion of said ski being less than the length of the segments in any zone rearwardly thereof to impart to said front shovel portion of the ski a higher vibration damping characteristic than is imparted to the remainder of the ski.
 9. The ski of claim 8, wherein each zone consists of segments of a progressively increasing length the greater the distance of the greater zone from the shovel portion as taken at least to the intermediate lengthwise portion of the ski to provide in the ski zones of progressively lower vibration damping characteristics as measured from the front shovel portion of the ski rearwardly to the intermediate lengthwise portion of the ski.
 10. In a ski having a front shovel portion, an intermediate binding portion, and a rearward tail end portion; means forming an edge member mounted on said ski and extending lengthwise therealong from said front shovel portion to substantially said rearward tail portion of said ski; said edge member comprising a series of segments and means interconnecting adjacent ones of said segments; the part of said edge member between said front shovel portion and said binding portion of the ski being divided into a series of longitudinally extending zones; each of said zones consisting of a plurality of said segments of substantially equal length within a particular zone; the length of the segments within a particular zone being longer than the length of the segments of any zone between the particular zone and the front shovel portion of the ski to impart to the ski zones of progressively increasing spring rate as taken from the front shovel portion to the binding portion of the ski.
 11. The ski of claim 10, wherein said edge member consists of one continuous segment from substantially said binding portion to said rearward tail end portion of the ski to impart a constant high spring rate to the part of the ski between said binding portion and said rearward tail end portion.
 12. In a ski having a front shovel area, an intermediate binding area, and a rearward tail end area; means forming an edge member mounted on said ski and extending lengthwise therealong from said front shovel area to said rearward tail end area of said ski; said edge member comprising a series of segments between said front shovel area and approximately said binding area of said ski with means interconnecting adjacent ones of said segments; and said member further comprising a single uninterrupted segment from said binding area to said rearward tail end area of said ski to provide the ski with a lower spring rate forward of the binding area and a substantially higher spring rate rearward of the binding area of the ski. 